King Charles III dismisses possibility of Prince Harry returning to royal role

Britain's Prince Harry appears onstage at the 2021 Global Citizen Live concert at Central Park in New York, U.S., Sep. 25, 2021. Photo by Reuters

According to sources cited by the New York Post, despite Harry’s hope that his father’s health challenges would help mend their strained relationship, sources close to the monarch have indicated that King Charles is "firmly of the opinion" that Harry’s return as a working royal is not possible.

Buckingham Palace announced earlier this month that King Charles has received a diagnosis of cancer and will delay his public appearances to receive medical treatment.

Reports from the Daily Mail suggest that although communications have occurred between the King and Harry, this does not imply a change in Harry’s royal responsibilities.

A source close to the royal family, as cited by the media outlet, has revealed that the current treatment of the King’s health does not affect the distribution of royal duties within the family, thus limiting Harry’s chances of reintegration.

Moreover, it has been stated that the King, Prince William of Wales, and the entire royal family are in unanimous agreement that the resolutions from the January 2020 "Sandringham Summit" are still valid. During this meeting, the late Queen Elizabeth II determined that Harry’s desire for a "half-in, half-out" position within the royal family was not practical.

Despite these obstacles, there is an implication that King Charles might be open to reconciling with Harry.

Meanwhile, allies of Harry have stated his eagerness to return to his royal duties if an invitation were extended.

In his interview on "Good Morning America" last week, Harry disclosed his father’s battle with cancer and conveyed his deep love and gratitude for his family, emphasizing the cherished times spent with his father.

He also mentioned considering acquiring American citizenship, though he clarified that it is "not a high priority" for him at the moment.